Coin-controlled liquid-dispensing apparatus.



No. 854,097. PATENTBD MAY 21, 1907.

J. J. MAGKEOWN.

OOIN'OONYTROLLED LIQUID DISPENSING APPARATUS.

, APPLIOITIOI FILED 38.16, 1904.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

mfg-Irma? I l PATENTED MAY 21; 1907.

J. J. MAGKBOWN.- (JOIN CONTROLLED LIQUID DISPENSING APPA RATUS.

APPLIOLTIOI FILED FEB. 16, 1904.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

Alluring 5 WITNESSES XS I l -rns mums Pn'nu co, wAsHnmran. n. c

PA'I'BNTED MAY 21, l-907.

- J. J. MAGKEOWN. 7

com CONTROLLED LIQUID DISPENSING APPARATUS.

urmonmxrnn'n ma. 1a, 1004,

Hanna's-slum- 4 IN VENTOR WITNESSES fl fi Allorney;

UNITED STATES JOSEPH J. MAOKEOWN,OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

PATENT orrron.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 21, 1907.

Application filed February 16, 1904. Serial N 193,917.

Be it known that I, J osErH J. MAGKEOWN, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Coin-Controlled Liquid Dispensing Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has relation to coinc0ntrolled apparatus for dispensing liquids, such as mineral waters, and has for its object the provision of novel means and mechanisms whereby the dispensing of a measured or definite quantity of liquid is made dependent upon the time the faucet through which the liquid flows is kept open.

A further object of my invention is the provision of novel means for preventing the use of blanks, slugs and other fraudulent devices, instead of proper coins, to operate the apparatus.

My invention consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of devices hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the working parts of the apparatus, the inclosing case being omitted, Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same, Fig. 3 is a front elevation, Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view on the line XX of Fig. 2, Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view on the line V-V of Fig. 2, Fig. 6 is a vertical transverse. sectional view of the coin depositing mechanism, Fig. 7 is an elevation of the reverse side of the front plate of the coin depositing mechanism and Fig. 8 is a side elevation of the coin depositing mechanism. Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the coin depositing mechanism, dis sected and the parts separated. Fig. 10, is a perspective view of the inner side of the front plate of the coin depositing mechanism.

The mechanism embodying my improvements is applied to a suitable supply apparatus comprising a tank or reservoir to contain the liquid to be dispensed, in which the liquid is held under pressure, such as air or gas pressure, or in which pressure may be produced by means of a pump or other pressure apparatus, or from which the liquid may flow by gravity. From such tank or reservoir a pipe leads to a faucet, through which the liquid is drawn, and, for the purposes of my invention, the plug or valve of the faucet is so connected to and controlled by mechanism brought into operative action upon the deposit of a proper coin, that when opened for the flow of liquid, it will remain open a sufficient time to allow of the escape of a definite quantity, such as a tumblerful, of liquid, and will then close, or shut off the flow therethrough automatically, the coinoperative parts being restored to their normal positions for the deposit of another coin, and the dispensing of another portion of liquid.

The following is a description in detail of the parts, devices and structural features constituting my invention. A designates the faucet through which the liquid is dispensed, and such faucet consists of a tube or barrel, (1, open at both ends, and having the delivery spout, l), and the supply branch, 0, projecting laterally therefrom on opposite sides. The barrel or body of the faucet is arranged horizontally in the apparatus, and the faucet plug, d, is of a diameter to fit closely the inside of the faucet barrel and is formed with center bearing heads, g, g, for the reception of the ends of the bearing screws, ZL, h, by which the plug is supported.

The bearing head, 9, is squared to receive and hold in operative connection, a toothed wheel or segment G, which engages with another toothed segment G, constituting parts of the coin-controlled mechanism.'

The segment G is mounted on a horizontal shaft D, which has its bearings in upright pieces of the framing of the apparatus, and to one end of said shaft is attached the handle E, through the operation of which, when a proper coin is deposited, the coincontrolled devices may be operated, and a measure of liquid dispensed. H designates a segment-shaped plate or tumbler loosely mounted on the shaft D, and having a part of its edge toothed as shown at H to engage with a toothed pinion h constituting part of a train of gearing or time movement which is operated by a wound spiral spring, connected to the main or power wheel of the train.

The purpose and functions of .the time movement is to control and limit the time flow of the liquid from the faucet and its parts or operative elements are so arranged and organized that the first operation which takes place in the apparatus, is, assuming a proper coin to have been deposited, to set or partially wind up said train, so that, after the faucet is opened, and the liquid allowed to start flowing, the train will run backward, under the recoil of the spring, until a measured quantity of liquid has escaped through the faucet, and after maintaining the faucet open for a definite time, will release mechanism by which the faucet will be closed. The winding up of the spring of the train or time movement is effected by the action of the tumbler H, and the latter is actuated through the pawl D which is secured to an arm or plate D mounted on and turning with the shaft D. The pawl D normally lies in the space formed in the periphery of the tumbler H, and until a proper coin is deposited, can only play or move within this space or recess, without, however, moving the tumbler any operative distance. hen, however, a proper coin is deposited, the shaft D being allowed to turn further, the arm or plate D and with it pawl D also turns, and inmoving, the point of the pawl strikes the shoulder h terminating the space 7L of the tumbler H, and moves the latter a certain distance on and concentrically of the shaft D. This movement of the tumbler H additionally winds up the spring H of the time movement by the engagement of the teeth of the-tumbler H with the pinion 7L2 of the time movement, and this winding continues until the underside of the pawl D comes in contact with the upper surface of a stationary curved cam piece i, whereupon the pawl is lifted from engagement with the shoulder h, and rides upon the cam piece L, thus releasing the train, and allowing the spring H of the latter to operate to run the train in a reverse direction. l/Vhen the shaft D, by the deposit of a coin, is allowed to be turned and is turned so that the pawl D releases the train of gearing, the faucet plug is turned at the same time and the faucet opened and held open by a gravity drop, so that the liquid begins to flow into the glass or receptacle provided for its reception. This [low or escape continuesuntil a part governed by the train lifts the gravity drop; hence the quantity of liquid dispensed under a single coin deposit depends upon the time limit of the trains operation, and as this time limit is gaged to meet the necessary conditions under which the different operations are conducted, it will run just a suflicient time, before allowing the faucet to be closed, to measure out and dispense the quantity paid for, say, an ordinary mineral-water glassful.

Attached to the plate D which carries the pawl D, is another similar pawl D on the opposite side of the plate D arranged and adapted to engage with a shoulder formed on a segmental plate 7c, the latter being attached to or forming part of the hub of a toothed segment K which is in mesh with another toothed segment K constituting part. of the coin-operated or controlled mechanism. Adjacent to the plate 76 is a cam piece 'i, similar to the cam piece "L, and arranged and adapted to lift the pawl or dog D so that, when the parts K, K have performed their functions, they will be released from engagement with the parts mounted on the shaft and allowed to return to position for the reception of another coin. It is to be understood, as will appear more clearly hereinafter, that the segments K, K can only be effectively operated after the deposit of a proper coin.

F designates a plate rigidly secured to and adapted to turn with the shaft D, and having mounted on one side a pawl or dog F, similar to the pawls or dogs, D, D. The pawl or deg F engages with a shoulder 0 on the hub O of a toothed segment G, and also'rides on the surface of a cam plate F similar to the cam plate i, so that, when, by the partial turning of the shaft D, by the movement of the handle E, the segment G is moved a sufficient distance to cause the faucet to be opened the pawl F will be lifted from engagement with the hub of the segment G so that the segment G will be in position and condition to return to its normal position, and close the faucet, when the clock or time movement has performed its operations and lifted the gravity drop. When the segment G has been moved by the pawl or dog F and the latter has been disengaged from the segment, the latter will be held in a retracted position, by the falling in its path of a stop If carried by the gravity drop I pivoted to an upright 1*, until, by the operation of the time movement, a pin or stud f projecting from or carried by one of the shafts of the time movement strikes and moves the gravity drop from the path of said segment.

R designates the coin slot, in the top plate of the apparatus, and R, a stationary metallic block, arranged below the slot and formed on its inner face with a recess at r, so that a coin dropped through the slot will face an oval or elliptical opening R cutthrough the block R. A channel R is formed in the face of this block and communicates with the coin chute leading to the coin chest or receptacle. The inner wall of the recess or channel R is curved so as to terminate at its upper part in a sharp edge in front of which the coin will fall, so as to be in line with the lower curved or inclined edge of the channel, said lower edge of the coin channel constituting a guide to direct and convey the coin toward the coin chute. At the upper part of the channel R a switch point or beveled shoulder S is formed to switch the coin in the proper direction.

S designates another block or plate adjacent to the block R, and. constituting with the latter a part of the coin-receiving mech anism. The plate S is rigidly secured to a horizontal shaft or spindle S, which has its bearings in the block R, and in a plate U, re spectively, the plate U being secured to the top plate of the apparatus. Upon the shaft S isl-ialso fixedly mounted the segment K heretofore referred to as being in engagement with the segment K The plate S is recessed on its inner face, as shown at s. and attached to said plate is a curved metallic tongue S which moves in a narrow channel formed in the back of the block R behind a plate S secured to said block. The plate S is formed with a curved recess 25 at its upper end, into which opens a curved notch t. The tongue S is similarly notched, as shown at t A plug T having its bearings in the plate S and segment is, and provided with an encircling spiral spring t', has a tenon on its forward end which proj ects into the space below the coin slot, and a projecting rear end which is arranged and adapted to be brought into contact with a bend or shoulder V formed on a spring plate V attached to the stationary plate U, when the plate S and segment 76 are turned after the deposit of a coin, and to be projected by said spring plate so as to impinge against the side of the deposited coin. When the plug T is so projected and strikes a coin, it cannot be moved farther lengthwise, hence the plate S and the parts coacting therewith may be moved sufficiently to bring into play the other devices necessary for the opening of the fanoet. If no coin be inserted, or if a slug, washer or other substitute for a coin be used which will not prevent the forward movement of the plug, the latter will be projected, so that it will, if the plate S be moved a slight distance, strike the upper end of the plate 8, and efiectually bar any further movement of the plate S and thus prevent any fraudulent operation of the liquid-dispensing mechanism.

When a coin or other device is inserted in the slot, and the plate S moved, a spring or tongue M attached to the plate S forces the coin to one side, so as to bring it into proper position for escape into the coin chute, but a pin or stud n projecting from the back of the block R into the channel 0 prevents the coin from being pushed too far for such escape.

Operation: The parts being constructed and arranged as described and illustrated, if now a coin of proper size and value be dropped into the coin slot, and the handle E pulled forward, the first or initial movement of the shaft will turn the plate D carrying pawls or dogs D and D and the pawl or dog D will engage the shoulder on plate 7c and move the segments K K, and with the latter the plates S and K This operation brings the plug T in contact with the spring plate V, and the plug comes in contact with the surface of the coin and presses back the spring plate V. The plug T is now in such position that the plate S and segment K may be moved still farther, thus permitting a continuation of the movement of the handle E and shaft D, and allowing the pawl or dog D to ride on the edge of the stationary cam plate i and be thrown out of engagement with the plate it of segment K. The parts S K, K being now unrestrained, return to their normal positions, under the retracting pull of a spring V connecting the plate S to a stationary part of the apparatus. This recoil movement causes the tongue S" to forcibly press the coin into the channel R. In the event of a washer, or yielding slug or blank being substituted for a proper coin, the plug T moving lengthwise under the pressure of the spring plate V, will either penetrate the washer or bulge or bend the yielding blank or slug, and will project so far that its shoulder will come in contact with the plate S, if it be attempted to turn the handle E, and any further movement of the parts will be frustrated. The opening R through the block R is so shaped and proportioned that the coin or other device inserted will be held solely by a part of its edge, hence a yielding plug, slug or like device will be forced out of shape, and either coin or slug will be moved laterallyinto line with the channel leading to the coin chute. The recoil of the plate S and tongue S above mentioned, causes the coin or other device used therefor to be forcibly ejected into the channel R from which it rolls to the coin box, but unless a proper coin has been inserted, the faucet cannot be opened. Upon continuing the movement of the handle E, after the operations already described, the pawl or dog D engages with and turns the tumbler H and further winds and increases the tension of the spring of the time movement. hen the pawl or dog D reaches the cam piece a and is lifted thereby out of engagement with the tumbler H, the time movement starts running in a reverse direction, and continues to run until the tumbler H is moved back to its normal position, when further running ceases. The time occupied by the time movement in so running before releasing the segment G, is the measure of time during which the faucet will be kept open, and by re ulating the size of the escape opening from the faucet to the time of running, the quantity of liquid dispensed can be accurately measured and controlled. Just prior to the release of. the pawl or dog D from engagement with the tumbler H, the pawl or dog F engages with the shoulder on the hub of the segment G, and the latter is then turned or moved, so as to turn the segment G and open the faucet. When the pawl or dog F reaches the cam plate F it is lifted thereby out of engagement with the hub of segment G, leaving the latter in condition to be restored to normal, after the requisite portion of liquid has been drawn. While the liquid is being drawn, the segment G is restrained from'returning to its original posistored to normal positions.

tion by the gravity drop, and so remains, until by the continued movement of the timing devices, the gravity drop is moved out of the path of the segment, whereupon the latter will be restored to its normal position by the retractile force of a spring L, connecting said segment with the framing of the apparatus (such spring having been strained or brought to tension by the forward movement of the segment), and the faucet will be closed.

The time movement is provided with the usual or any suitable escapement mechanism or other means for controlling its speed,

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A liquid-dispensing apparatus, comprising a faucet or valve, manually operated devices for opening said valve, independently releasable checking or restraining devices, automatically operating means for maintaining said. valve or faucet open during a predetermined period of time, and then closing it, and means, whereby, after the preliminary or initial movements upon which the opening of the faucet depends, the contributing devices and mechanisms are re- 2. In liquid-dispensing apparatus, the combination with a main shaft, an operating handle, and releasable restraining devices, of a spring-actuated time movement, operatively connected with said shaft and adapted to be operated thereby to increase the tension of the spring, a valve or faucet, means dependent upon the release of said restraining devices for opening said faucet, when said shaft is operated to the limit of its movement, and means for closing said faucet at the expiration of said period.

3. In a liquid-dispensing apparatus, the combination with a time movement to control the flow of liquid, and manually operable means for opening the delivery faucet or valve and controllable devices for holding said manually operable devices in check, of means for winding the spring of the time movement and permitting said time move ment to operate, after such winding, and independently of said manually operable devices, and means for allowing said controlable devices to return to their normal positions, after the winding of said spring and before the opening of the valve or faucet,

4, In a liquid-dispensing apparatus, the combination with the main shaft D, having the handle E, of a series of dogs or pawls connected thereto, tumblers or shouldered plates with which said pawls successively engage, devices for releasing said pawls from such engagement, devices which normally restrain the movement of said handle and means, including said restraining devices, for controlling the movement of said pawls.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in presence of two witnesses.

JOSEPH J. MACKEOWN.

I/Vitnesses Tnos. A. CONNELLY, D. T. JoYoE. 

